The one guide you'll need to know about the openings coming your way in the week ahead. This week, there's a new lobster/burger spot in Covent Garden, a residency kitchen arrives in Hackney and there's a new party flat in Shoreditch.
Rocola
Hackney - 143 Mare Street, London E8 3FW
Rocola comes from the same team behind Crudo and Tiny Wine, but this time they're trying something a little different. Along the same lines as Carousel, Rocola will be mainly focused around a series of rotating residencies, with new chefs lined up every few weeks. Things kick off this week with chef Nico Reynolds, who will be mixing his Jamaican and Irish roots with influences from his time spent cooking in Buenos Aires. The jerk lamb shepherd's pie coxinha certainly sounds like it's worth a try.
Opening date: 8 July 2026
The Little Neon Door
Shoreditch - 91-93 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3HZ
The Little Doors bars are always extremely popular around London, and now the latest is arriving in Shoreditch. The Neon version will, as ever, be an interpretation of a house party, this time with particular nods towards East London lofts. Each of the rooms will have a different look, with cocktails, karaoke and fancy dress all in the house. On the food side, expect pizzas, bar snacks (like burgers and tacos) and brunch at the weekends.
Opening date: 6 July 2026
Soft launch: 50% off food, from 6-9 July 2026
Spey Shack
Covent Garden - 3 Henrietta Street, London, WC2E 8PS
Spey Shack originally started life in Speyside in Scotland as a summer pop-up at Craigellachie Hotel. They'll be popping up for a couple of months at 3 Henrietta Street with the food focusing on something you might recognise - lobster rolls and smash burgers. In this iteration, both have a very Scottish provenance.
Starts: 10 July 2026
Here's what opened last week
Johnny Boy's (Stoke Newington) - The man behind Facing Heaven launched an LA-inspired restaurant in Stoke Newington.
Rosina (Wandsworth) - Adam Byatt turnd to Italy for his latest restaurant opening.
Roost (Forest Hill) - Algerian-spiced chicken under the arches.
Langosteria (Whitehall) - A long-promised upmarket Italian from Milan arrived at The OWO.
Carmy's (Covent Garden) - The Carmela's team launched a pizza by the slice operation.
The Mary Wollstonecraft (Stoke Newington) - The man behind The Robin pub opened his latest in Stoke Newington.
This week's events
6 July (Soho) - The Palomar's Guest Chef Series continues with chef and food writer Alexandra Dudley taking over the kitchen for one night only, serving a selection of summer specials from her new cookbook Cooking Made Simple. Expect dishes like basil devilled eggs with crab and grilled squid with tomato and feta alongside The Palomar's regular menu.
8 July (London Bridge) - Bar Douro is bringing Portuguese Maronesa beef to the UK for the very first time in a five-course dinner that features different cuts and preparations throughout the meal. Tickets are £95.
10-11 July (Shoreditch) - Virgin Atlantic Holidays is teaming up with Korean social media star Park Mak-rye, aka @korea_grandma, for a two-day Korean supper club in Shoreditch. Expect banchan, home-style Korean dishes, desserts, soju and beer, with all proceeds going to Save the Children. Tickets are £30 per person, and one guest at every sitting will win return flights to Seoul.
11-12 July (Haggerston) - Malik Acid's Mango Listening Bar returns to east London for a two-day celebration of mango season, combining vinyl-led soundscapes, tastings, cocktails and cultural programming. Created with Friendly Pressure, the event explores the cultural significance of mangoes through food, drink, talks and music, with 50% of food and drink profits going to Amos Trust. Tickets are free.
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